2000 Dodge Grand Caravan brakes ?

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Steve - 13 Mar 2007 23:49 GMT

I have a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE with about 68000 miles. I am
planning on about a 2000+ mile trip from MN to CO and back and
wondering if I should take it in to a shop to have the brakes
checked? I bought it used at about 58000 miles and don't know what,
if anything, was done to the brakes prior to that? It seems to run
fine and the brakes seem fine but I am a little worried if I have to
do much mountain driving on worn out brakes?! Any suggestions? Is
there any good way of looking at them myself to see if they are worn
to the point of replacement?
Thanks for any help!
Steve

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Scott Dorsey - 14 Mar 2007 01:30 GMT

>I have a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE with about 68000 miles. I am
>planning on about a 2000+ mile trip from MN to CO and back and
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>there any good way of looking at them myself to see if they are worn
>to the point of replacement?

Have you done anything to the car in the last 10,000 miles?

At the very least I'd take it to someone trustworthy, and check all
the belts, hoses, and brakes. If you don't know if the previous owner
has been good about it, I'd change transmission fluid, power steering
fluid, radiator fluid and brake fluid too. Check plugs and cables
or maybe just replace the plugs since it's as easy to swap 'em as to
check them.

And I would probably do this ANYWAY, just having purchased a car without
a maintenance record, even if I wasn't planning a 2,000 mile trip.
--scott

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"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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ngmodert@hotmail.com - 15 Mar 2007 00:57 GMT

> I have a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE with about 68000 miles. I am
> planning on about a 2000+ mile trip from MN to CO and back and
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Thanks for any help!
> Steve

If the previous owner replaced the brakes they should be fine. If they
weren't replaced then it's probably due. Problem is you don't know
which. You can actually check them yourself if your worried about
being taken. Just pull a tire off and see how much 'meat' is left on
the pads.

Scott had some really good ideas. However, transmission fluid
shouldn't need to be changed until 80-100,000 mi or if it's very dark.
I wouldn't worry about the other fluids at all(except oil) until at
least 100,000, except do check ALL fluids and the other things he
mentioned. It is a long trip.

Oh yea, a good indication if brakes are worn is to check the brake
fluid reservoir. If it is halfway between the max and min marks then
it is probably time to change brake pads.

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Steve - 15 Mar 2007 19:05 GMT

> If the previous owner replaced the brakes they should be fine. If they
> weren't replaced then it's probably due. Problem is you don't know
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> fluid reservoir. If it is halfway between the max and min marks then
> it is probably time to change brake pads.

Update!

I took the van into a local shop - not the dealer shop. I have some
trust in this shop from past experience. The rear brakes were packed
with brake dust and were pitted. They had been making some noise
prior to this so I wasn't surprised. I had new rear brakes put in and
they turned the drums. The front brakes they estimated had about 20%
pad left so I didn't do them. They said they would do a 2500 mile
trip just fine. I had a front end alignment done. New tires
(Republic brand made by Goodyear) put on the front. Also had a new
serpentine belt put on. The bill was about $300 parts and $200 labor
and took about 3 1/2 hours.

I had already just changed the oil and filter the other day. I like
to use Mobil 1 synthetic 10W-30. I also put in a new air filter.
I checked all other fluid levels.

I just had new transmission fluid put in about a year ago.

Hopefully I'm ready to roll!

Did I do ok?

Thanks!
Steve

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motoron - 16 Mar 2007 15:32 GMT

> > If the previous owner replaced the brakes they should be fine. If they
> > weren't replaced then it's probably due. Problem is you don't know
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
> Thanks!
> Steve

You are ready to go.

May you run across a lot of low priced gas stations on your trip.

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Steve - 01 Apr 2007 03:56 GMT

> I have a 2000DodgeGrandCaravanSE with about 68000 miles. I am
> planning on about a 2000+ mile trip from MN to CO and back and
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Thanks for any help!
> Steve

Update!

We just returned from our trip and after about 2500 miles, the only
problem I had with the van was that somehow I picked up a nail in one
of the older tires I kept on the vehicle on the back. I'd like to put
in a good word for the "Big O" tire shop in Loveland Colorado for
promptly taking the vehicle in and fixing it and not even charging for
it. They told me to come back again sometime if I ever needed new
tires. So Thank You again if you are out there!

We had a great, nearly trouble free trip!

Steve

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